Engine starting mechanism



March 7, 1933. CHILTON 1,900,799

ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet i I 3nvcntor we (Ittorncgs March 7, 1933. R cHlLTON 1,900,799

ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM I Filed Oct. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZSmaentor dttorncg Patented -Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLAND CHILTON, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE AVIATION CORPORATION, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Application flled october 18, 1929. 'Serlal No. 400,704.

combustionengines, wherein the inertia ele-- ment is constituted by the rapidly rotating element, for example the armature, of an electric motor. Such apparatus may be adapted for either manual or electrical actuation, and in order to prevent loss of power due to brush friction on-the commutator of the motor, it is desirable to maintain the brushes out ofengagement with the commutator when the engine is being cranked, or when the inertia element is being accelerated manually. 7

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide inertia starting mechanism of the type wherein the inertia element is constituted by therotor of an electric motor, the mechanism embodying novel means whereby the brushes are normally maintained out of engagement with the commutator of the motor and are engaged therewith only when the inertia element is being accelerated electrically, said novel means ineluding common control means for the' brush engaging mechanism a and the mechanism which drivablyconnects said inertia element with the manualaccelerating means.

A- further object is to provide novel start ing apparatus of the above character which is adapted for manual or electrical actua tion, or both, and which occupies minimum space and has minimum weight for its size.

One embodiment ofthe invention is illus; trated the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In said drawings:.

Fig. 1 's an elevation, partly in section,

of one embodiment of the invention; 1

Fig. 2is an end view of Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is a, detail in perspective showing the brush mounting and actuatingmeans.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the starting mechanism is housed in a sectional casing 4 of any suitable t pe, which casing is adapted to be secure by means such as bolts 5 to the easing of an internal combustion engine (not shown). Mounted in suitable bearings in the casing 4 is the shaft 6 of an electric motor, said shaft being provided with suitable teeth 7 meshing with a largegear 8 that is drivably connected through a suitable train of reduction gearing (not shown) with a clutch jaw 9. Preferably, a yielding driving connection is interposed between the gear 8 and the clutch jaw 9, said yielding connection in the form shown comprising friction clutch means 10 of the type described in my Patent No. 1,632,539, dated June 14, 1927.

The clutch jaw 9 is adapted to be shifted axially into engagement with a member of the engine to be started byany suitable shifting mechanism (not shown) actuated by a. rock shaft 11. The mechanism above described is, well understood in the art and constitutes no part per se of the present invention,\and any known type of such mechanism can be employed whlch' is suitable for coils 13 thereon and secured to the casing 4' in any suitable manner, as by means of screws or bolts, 14. The rotating motor armature is constituted by a supporting plate15 which is keyed at 16 to the shaft 6 and carries" adjacent its periphery suitable laminations l7'andarmature windings 18.

The rotating armature thus constituted is of considerable weight and. of relatively great radius and may constitute the inertia ele- Y ment of the starting mechanism, the energy of rotation of which is effective to rotate the clutch jaw 9 to crank the engine. The shaft 6 likewise carries a commutator 19 compris- "ing a plurality of segments [to which the armature windings 18 are suitably connecttained out of engagement with said commutator under normal conditions and may be displaced into engagement with said com-- mutator to rotate the motor armature or inertia element' In the form shown, the commutator 19-is'housed in a cup 21 that is suitably secured to the casing/4 by means of a screw or screws 22, and a ring 23 is adjustably mounted on said cup, said ring having inner and outer flanges 24 as seen in Fig. 3. The upper part of the inner flange 24 is provided with a slot 25 through which one of the screws 22 extends, whereby the ring 23 is held fixed with respect to the cup 21 and the outer housing 4. Resilient arms 26, such as leaf springs, are mounted on pins 27 that extend between the inner and outer flanges 24 and each of said arms 26 carries a brush 20, the normal ,position of said brushes being out of contact with the commutator 19 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The brushes 20 extend through registering openings 28 in the ring 23 and cup 21, and flexible leads 29 connect the brushes 20 with a terminal block 30.

As stated above, the starting mechanism is adapted to be actuated either manually or by power. Accordingly, suitable means are provided for flexing 'or bending'the resilient arms 26 to depress the brushes 20 into engagement with the commutator 19, said brushes constituting a switch for energizing the motor when it is desired to actuate the starter by power. In the form shown, the outer flange 24 on the ring 23 is provided with an upwardly and laterally extending portion 31 which serves as a bracket on which a bell crank lever is pivoted by meansof a pivot pin- 32. The horizontally extending arm 33 of. the bell crank lever has an eye 34 through which loosely extends a pin 35 carrying a block of insulating material 36 that is provided with portions 37 adapted to engage and flex the resilient arms 26. The vertically extending arm 38 of the bell crank lever is connected to alink 39'which passes freely through an opening in a lug 40 formed on a swinging lever 41 that is pivoted by means of a pin 42 on the starter housing 4. Resilient means such as a coil I spring 43 is interposed between the lug 40 and a plate 44 secured to the link 39. An operating or control rod 45 is connected to the upper end of the lever 41, so that when the control rod is pushed to the right, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the lever 41 swings about its pivot and compresses the spring 43 thereby resiliently urging link 39 to the right and rotating the bell crank lever on its pivot 32 to depress the arms 26 and brushes 20.

Preferably. the control rod 45 likewise serves to shift the clutch jaw 9 into engagement with the engine to be cranked after the inertia element has been accelerated either manually or by power. Accordingly the lever 41' is provided with a lug. 46 which, when the control rod is pulled to the left as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, engages and rotates a swinging frame 47 that is preferably pivoted on the pin 42. An arm 48 on the frame 47 is connected by means of a link 49 and a rock ,arm 50 with the rock shaft 11 which, as

above described, shifts the clutch jaw 9 ax-' ially into cranking position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated, the common means for controlling the movement of the brush carrying arms 26 and the driving connection to the inertia element from the manual accelerating shaft 51 (Fig. 2) takes the form of a ratchet jaw 52 provided on the shaft 51, and adapted to engage a corresponding ratchet jaw 53 to drivably connect the crankin shaft 51 with an extension 54 thereof, sai ratchet jaws being normally maintained in engagement by means of a pair of springs 55 suitably mounted as by means of screws 56 on the swinging frame 47.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The parts beingin their normal position shown in the drawings, when it is desired to accelerate the starter manually, it is only necessary to rotate the cranking shaft 54 which transmits its rotation through the ratchet jaws 52, 53 and the shaft 51 to the starter gearing and rotates the inertia element constituted by the motor armature. As soon as the latter has been brought u to high speed and sufiicient energy has n stored therein to start the engine, the operating rod 45 is pulled to the left as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 whereby the lever 41 is ro--- inclined faces of the jaw teeth will be effective' to displace the jaw 9 axially to the position shown in Fig. 1. Since the lever 41 has been rotated in only one direction, namely, counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 2, the link 39 has not been shifted 'and the brushes 20 remain out'of engagement with the commutator 19 so that there is no brush load to be overcome in accelerating the inertia .element' or in cranking the engine.

If it is desired to accelerate the starter by power, the operating rod 45 is first pushed to the right as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 whereupon the. brushes 2O are depressed as above described into engagement with the commutator 19. The motor then starts and as soon .as the desired speed of rotation of the arma- 5 time has been reached, the control rod 45 is pulled sharply to the left to shift the clutch r Jaw 9 as above described into cranking positlon, whereupon the spring 43 is released and the resilient arms 26 lift the brushes out of engagement with the commutator, thereby simultaneously breaking ai s motor circuit andremoving thebrush load from the commutator. When this leftward movement occurs the resilient arms 55 swing in a counter-clockwise direction, thus permitting the clutch element 52 to move awa from the associated clutch element 53. T is disengagement of the clutch 5253 protects the operator, since it eliminates the possibility of a W sudden reversal of the crank handle \54 in the "event of a backfire of the engine. I

Since the brushes are always out of en gagement with the commutator when the engme is being cranked, none of the. power stored in the inertia element is' lost in overcoming the brush load. Moreover manual cranking of the starter is greatly facilitated by the removal of the brush load, and at the same time the brushes may bereadily moved into engagement with the commutator whenver it is desired to use the electric motor.

The apparatus, whiie simple and economical 0 construct, is effective and reliable in operation and is designed so as to have the least possible weight and to occupy the least possible space. The brushes and the resilient mounting therefor are bodily ad ustable around the commutator axis without 'dis-.

turbing or interfering with the means where- 40 by the brushes are depressed into engagethat described. For example, the invention ment with the commutator. While only one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in the drawings, it is to be, expressly understood that theinvention is not limited thereto, but is capable of embodiments other than fromthe spirit of the invention, and refero Q3138 is therefore to be had to theappended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention; For claims to the electric motor had to my divisional application Serial No.

647,673, filed Dec. 16, 1932. j

- and said brush carrying'arms.

What is claimed is:

1. In en ine starting a paratus, the combination o a driven mem er adapted to engage and crank an engine to be started, inertia mechanism drivably connected with I said driven member and including an electric motor having an armature and commutator, brushes for said commutator, arms carrying said brushes normally out of engagement with said commutator, manually operable means for accelerating said inertia mechanism comprising a hand-cranking shaft and, a clutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism, and common means for controlling said clutch and said brush carrying armsi p 2. n englne starting apparatus, the combination of a clutch member adapted to en'- gage and crank an engine to be started, in-.

ertia mechanism drivably' connected with said clutch member, said mechanism includ- "ing an electric motor having an armature and a commutator, a brush for said commutator, a resilient arm supported atone end and carrying said brush normally out of engagement with said commutator, ma'nua ly operable means for accelerating said inertia mechanism comprising a handcranking shaft and a clutch mechanismdnterposed between said, cranking shaft and inertia mechanism, and common means for controlling said second clutch and said brush carrying arms.

3. In engine starting apparatus, the combination of a driven member adapted to be -.moved into cranking engagement with an engine to be started, inertia driving means drivably connected with said driven member and including an electric motor, said motor having a rotating armature and a commutator, brushes for said commutator,

a pluralityof resilient arms each carrying one of said brushes normally out of engagement with said commutator, manually op-- erable means for acceleratin said inertia mechanism comprising; a and-cranking shaft and a clutch mechanism interposed be- .tween said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism, and common means for controlling said clutch and said brush carrying arms.

4. In ,apparatus of the character de- 7 scribed, the combination ofa' clutch mem ber adapted to be shifted to engage and crank an engine to be started, inertia driving means operatively connected with said clutch member and including an electric m'otor, a second clutch manually rotatable, to

-having" an armature and a commutator, brushes for said commutator, resilient arms carrying said brushes normally out of en and parts thereof, per se, reference is to be. gagement with said commutator, common" means for controlling said second clutch accelerate said electric motor, said motor 5. Engine starting mechanism comprising a clutch member adapted to enga e and crank an engine, inertia drivin 'mec anism therefor, said mechanism inclu ing an elec-- 5 tr1c motor having an armature and a commutator, brushes for said commutator, a housing for said commutator having openings therein, resilient brush carrying means mounted exteriorly of said housing, said brushes extending throu h. said openings and normally being out o engagement with said commutator, manually operable means for accelerating said inertia mechanism comprising a hand-cranking shaftand a clutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism, and common control means for said second clutch and brush carrymgarms.

6. Engine starting mechanism compr1sing a member adapted to engage and crank an engine to be. started, inertia driving mechanism therefor, said drivm' mechanism 1ncluding an electric motor avmg an armature and commutator ,,brushes for said commutator, a 7 housing for said commutator openings therein, a member carried having I on said housing and adjustable thereon around'the axis of said commutator, resilientbrush carrying means mounted on said 3 member, said brushes extending through said openings and normally being out of engagement with said commutator, manu ally operable means for accelerating said inertia mechanism comprising a handcranking shaft and a; clutch mechanism interposed between said crankmg' shaft and inertia mechanism, and common control means for said clutch and brush carrying arms.

ing amember'adapted to engage and crank an engine to be started, inertia driving' means therefor, 'sai means including an electric motor having .a rotating armature and a commutator, brushes for said commultator, a housing for said commutator, a supporting member mounted on sald-housing, said housing and supporting member havlng registering openings, resilientbrush carrya ing arms mounted on said support ng member, said brushes extendin through said openings and normally being out of engagement with said commutator, manually operable means for accelerating said inertia mechanism comprising a hand-cranking shaft and a clutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism, and common control means for said clutch and brushca'rryin'g arms.-

bination of a member adapted to be shifted toengine cranking position, inertia mech anism drivably connected with said member and includi g an electric motor having an armature an a commutator, brushes for 7 Engine starting mechanism compris-v 8. In engine starting apparatus, the com-' said commutator, manually operable meansfor acceleratin said inertia mechanism comprising a hand -Crankin shaft and a clutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism and common means for controlling said clutch and said brush carrying arms.

9. In engine starting mechanism, the combination of a clutch member adaptedfto be shifted to engine cranking position, inertia mechanism drivably connected to said clutch member and including an electric motor having an armature and commutator,

brushes for said commutator, a plurality of resilient arms carrying said brushes normally out of engagement with said commutator, manually operable means for accelerating said inertia mechanism comprising a hand-cranking shaft and a clutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism and common means for controlling saidssecond clutch and said brush carrying arms.

10. In engine starting mechanism, the

combination of a clutch member adapted to be shifted to" engine cranking position, inertia mechanism drivably connected tosaid clutch member and including an electric motor having an armature and commutacommutator, brushes resiliently mounted on said member and normally being out of engagement with said commutator, means mounted on said member for holding said brushes, in engagement with said commutator, said member brushes and holding means being bodily adjustable as a unit around the axis of said commutator, manually operable means for accelerating said inertiamechanism comprising a hand-crankin shaft and ajclutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism,

and common control means for said second clutch and brush, carrying arms and means for actuating said holding means.

11; In engine starting apparatus, the combination of a driven member adapted to beishifted to engage and crank a member of an engine tobe started, an electric motor includinga stationary and a rotating element, the latter constituting an inertia mem- ,ber drivably connected with said, driven member, a commutator and brushes for said motor, a support, brush-carrying arms mounted on saidsupport, manually operable means for accelerating said inertia mechanism comprising a hand-cranking shaft tor, a supporting member surrounding 'said and a clutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism, said brushes being normally out of engagement withsaid commutator, and common means for controlling said clutch and said brush carrying arms. e

12. In engine starting apparatus; the combination of aclutch member adapted to engage and crank an engine to be started, 1 an electric motor having a rotor that constitutes an inertia element and isdrivably connected withsaid clutch member, a commutator for said motor, a supporting member rotatably mounted about the commutator axis, a plurality of arms mounted on said supporting member, brushes carried by said arms and normally out of engagement with said commutator, manually operable means for accelerating said'inertia mechanism comprising a hand-cranking shaft and a' clutch mechanism interposed between said cranking shaft and inertia mechanism. and common means for controlling said second clutch and said brush carrying arms.

- In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

' ROLAND CHILTON. 

